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Show POWER OF LEWIS The most powerful figure in organized labor for the last decade has been John Lewis. "Sinister demagogue," to his enemies; "saviour of the worhingman," to labor, Lewis Lew-is at once the most loved and most hated man in America. Consumate actor, magnificent orator and a man of great mental attainments, Lewis today commands the attention of all classes by sheer force of his personality and character. Right or wrong, he fights, sometimes with whatever wea-j wea-j pon is closest to his hand. j In leading his coal miners bach into the fold of the t American Federation of Labor, Lewis has not done so simly to align his organization with the more or less ineffective AFL, which has steadily lost ground under competition of the aggressive and smart CIO. It is easy to imagine John Lewis gobbling the aging William Green, president of the AFL,. thence by easy stages stag-es absorbing the CIO into the American Federation, con-sumating con-sumating eventually into one giant labor body; of course under the leadership of Lewis. Whether this consolidation of the old idea of craft unionism and that of semi-skilled and unskilled labor into one body is best for the country and for the members, remains re-mains to be seen. Whatever happens, we have a hunch that Lewis will come out on top. |